After the opening ceremony, the second set of rules for the competition was about to begin. The event, collectively known as the "Super Series" on the official forum, was scheduled to start after a one-hour delay.
"Ding dong!"
In the guest seat, Hu Tao was watching the third round of the standard auditions with great interest, casually flipping through her Pokédex when a notification popped up.
[NOTIFICATION]: Contestant No. 77 (Hu Tao), please arrive at the Pokémon Home Arena (Bug Space) before 10:45 AM to participate in the 11:00 AM opening match of the Super Series. To ensure the smooth progress of the event, please arrive as soon as possible to register and prepare.
Hu Tao was stunned for a moment, and then ecstasy filled her face. She jumped up from her seat, nearly knocking over her tea.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
"That's great~ Our Director has been selected as one of the players in the opening match of the Super Series! This is the guidance of fate!"
"The fifty million Mora I spent on my partner will resound throughout Teyvat today!"
Everyone in the guest seats stared at her. They looked at each other, confused. One of the contestants in the opening match was randomly assigned to Hu Tao?
"Have any of you received a battle notification?" Hu Tao scanned the guest seats carefully, radiating an oppressive aura like a tigress descending a mountain. All the famous characters in the VIP group chat were there, but none spoke up.
"Hmph! This Director doesn't like to pinch soft persimmons," Hu Tao declared, twirling her staff. "Come to me, masters! I'll squeeze you until you explode! This is the opening match. It's meant for people who attract attention. By the way, let's make a full-server advertisement for the funeral business of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!"
"On the field, rush to your deaths! Fly with confidence! Please rest assured that we have the best technicians to provide you with body exhumation and requiem services!"
The corners of the guests' mouths twitched, including Hiroshi.
Director Hu, do you really have to advertise funerals at a celebration event?
"Snort!" Tartaglia glanced at his Pokédex and saw that his notification bar was empty. "I really wanted to play this opening match... why didn't I get chosen?"
Hiroshi stood up first. Jean and Ningguang also led the luxurious spectator groups of Mondstadt and Liyue to follow him. In an instant, the guest seats were almost empty as the VIPs moved to the special venue.
The audience, completely absorbed by the fierce battles in the four sub-venues, barely noticed the big shots leaving.
The Bug Space Arena
The backstage entrance was located in a small hall where Hiroshi had installed a dimensional door connected to the main store.
"Wow——"
Hiroshi led the group into the virtual arena. A group of spectators, who had been waiting for nearly an hour just to watch the "Super Match," shouted excitedly.
Since the opening ceremony had already been held outside, there was no need for cumbersome formalism here. Hiroshi took the lead and sat down in the VIP box.
Hu Tao had already made her debut on the field.
Although this virtual space venue accommodated far fewer spectators than the Liyue Arena outside (only about 8,000), the size of the battlefield was comparable to a professional football field.
More importantly, the virtual space had "Elf Black Technology" that the physical Liyue venues could not match. A shimmering light curtain separated the audience area from the battlefield. Even if the ground shattered or lava spurted during the fight, the audience would remain unharmed.
As Hu Tao and her opponent prepared, the Teyvat Cheers app launched the second livestream channel.
[Channel 2: Unrestricted Showdown! The War Rages!]
Suddenly, the number of real-time online viewers soared from zero to one million and continued to climb. The forums were buzzing.
"Damn it! The Super Series is about to begin!"
"The big one is finally here? I was getting tired of watching Bug Catchers tackle each other."
"The opening lineup is out! It's Director Hu Tao!"
"The 77th Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor? The one who bought the first Quasi-God for 50 million Mora?!"
Inazuma – The Screens Across the Sea
At Hanamizaka, the Kamisato Estate, and the Sangonomiya Shrine, the giant screens suddenly switched to the new venue, filled with sci-fi colors.
Hiroshi didn't use a microphone, but his voice was clear and loud, echoing through the digital connection.
"Welcome, everyone. This is the Virtual Arena provided by our store for the Liyue Pokémon Tournament."
"You have no doubts about the rules of the Unlimited Super Series, right? This is for trainers who possess a Vision or have reached a high level of mastery. It is tailor-made for high-intensity combat!"
As his voice echoed, a holographic voting interface appeared in front of every spectator in the arena and on the screens of millions of Pokédex users.
[VOTE FOR MAP SELECTION]
Hisui: Alabaster Icelands (Bonechill Wastes)
Hisui: Cobalt Coastlands (Tranquility Cove)
Hisui: Obsidian Fieldlands (Horseshoe Plains)
Short, high-definition videos of each location played next to the options.
"Audience, it's time to show your participation!" Hiroshi announced. "Vote for the map! The scene with the highest votes will be 100% projected into the venue. The players will be immersed in a realistic environment!"
The audience gasped in shock.
"What kind of Adeptus magic is this?!"
"We can decide the battlefield?!"
Above the starry sky, the three Adepti of Jueyun—Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer—looked at each other in confusion.
"Cloud Retainer, do you know how to do this?"
"No! One does not!"
"I seriously doubt that Ping and that murderer worked together to create this weird space!"
"Beep!"
Five minutes later, the voting closed.
[SYSTEM]: 38% of the audience chose Hisui / Cobalt Coastlands / Tranquility Cove.
[Loading Holographic Scene...]
In just ten seconds, the arena transformed. The flat floor rippled and turned into a stunning bay. Shallow turquoise waters lapped against white sand beaches. Emerald green islands dotted the background. The sky turned a brilliant blue, and virtual Wingulls cried overhead.
"WOC..." The audience screamed in shock. It was indistinguishable from reality.
Liu Su, the storyteller from Heyu Tea House, took the commentator's mic. "What amazing technology! Let's not talk nonsense! The opening match of the Super Series begins now!"
"In the Red Corner: Hu Tao!"
"In the Blue Corner: A Jiu!"
On the sands of Tranquility Cove, Hu Tao looked dazed as she stared at the little blue-haired girl opposite her. The girl looked about ten years old, wearing glasses and an outfit that seemed slightly out of date. But she had a mature temperament that was inconsistent with her age.
"A Jiu?" Hu Tao blinked. "She doesn't have a Vision!"
The crowd murmured. "Not surprising! Over a thousand people signed up for the Super Rules. Not all of them can be Vision holders. But anyone who dares to sign up for this is a ruthless person!"
In the VIP box, Zhongli frowned slightly.
"It's him?"
Venti also noticed something amiss. "Hey, this is interesting! That girl is just a skin."
Nearby, Xiao narrowed his eyes. "Demon... or remnant?"
He raised his eyebrows but didn't release any murderous intent. Because in A Jiu's body, Xiao noticed a familiar aura...
It was the aura of an ancient earth dragon. Azhdaha.